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. 2020 Mar 15;11(3):66–77. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v11.i3.66

Table 1.

Summary of studies investigating body composition and insulin resistance in transgender individuals

Ref. Country Design Time period n Average age (yr) Number of controls Methods Lean mass Fat mass IR WHR
Studies in Transgender men
Van Caenegem et al[41] Belgium Prospective controlled 12 mo 23 27 (9) 23 age-matched DXA and pQCT ↑10.4% ↓9.7%
Haraldsen et al[31] Norway Prospective controlled 3 mo, 12 mo 21 25.1 (4.8) 45, not age-matched DXA
Cupisti et al[24] Germany Prospective controlled 12 mo 29 29.9 (18-40) 240 PCOS, age-matched HOMA-IR
Aranda et al[19] Spain Prospective 6 mo, 12 mo 20 27.1 (8.0) DXA and HOMA-IR ↑5.8% ↓6.3% ↑A:G ratio
Auer et al[21] Germany Prospective 13 mo 45 27.5 (1.3) DXA and HOMA-IR
Klaver et al[32] The Nether-lands and Belgium Prospective 12 mo 162 24 (18-58) DXA ↑10% ↓9%
Gava et al[30] Italy Prospective 12 mo, 36 mo, 60 mo 50 30.1 (6.1) DXA and HOMA-IR
Aranda et al[18] Spain Prospective 6 mo, 12 mo 12 27.1 (17-43) HOMA-IR WC ↔
Auer et al[20] Belgium and Norway Prospective 12 mo 20 NR DXA and HOMA-IR
Colizzi et al[23] Italy Prospective 12 mo, 24 mo 43 28.8 (5.6) HOMA-IR WC ↑
Pelusi et al[37] Italy Prospective 30 wk, 54 wk 45 29.5 DXA and HOMA-IR
Wierckx et al[42] Belgium Prospective 12 mo 53 24.5 (7.0) DXA
Mueller et al[35] Germany Prospective 12 mo, 24 mo 45 NR DXA
Yahyaoui et al[43] United States Prospective 12 mo, 24 mo 47 25.7 (6.0) HOMA-IR
Merigg-iola et al[34] Italy Prospective 12 mo 15 35.7 (5.0) DXA and HOMA-IR ↑ (NS)
Berra et al[22] Italy Prospective 6 mo 16 NR BIA and HOMA WC ↔
Elbers et al[27] The Nether-lands Prospective 12 mo 17 23 (16-34) MRI and EGC ↑ in VAT
Elbers et al[25] The Nether-lands Prospective 4 mo, 12 mo 15 23 (16-34) MRI and BIA
Elbers et al[26] The Nether-lands Prospective 12 mo, 36 mo 10 24 (16-33) MRI ↑ thigh muscle ↑ in VAT
Polderman et al[38] The Nether-lands Prospective 4 mo 13 23.1 (18-33) BIA and EGC
Van Caenegem et al[39] Belgium Cross-sectional 10 yr on GAHT (3-28) 50 37 (8) 50 age-matched DXA and pQCT 9% more 30% less Larger
Studies in Transgender women
Haraldsen et al[31] Norway Prospective controlled 3 mo, 12 mo 12 29.3 (7.8) 77, not age-matched DXA
Auer et al[21] Germany Prospective 12 mo 24 34.8(1.4) DXA and HOMA-IR
Klaver et al[32] The Nether-lands and Belgium Prospective 12 mo 179 29 (18-66) DXA ↓3% ↑28%
Fighera et al[28] Brazil Prospective 31 mo 46 33.7 (10.3) DXA
Aranda et al[18] Spain Prospective 6 mo, 12 mo 6 18.8 (16-21) HOMA-IR WC ↑
Auer et al[20] Belgium and Norway Prospective 12 mo 20 NR DXA and HOMA-IR
Gava et al[29] Italy Prospective 12 mo 40 31.2 (9.8) DXA and HOMA-IR ↓ (NS)
Colizzi et al[23] Italy Prospective 12 mo, 24 mo 79 30.2 (9.6) HOMA-IR WC ↑
Van Caenegem et al[40] Belgium Prospective 12 months, 24 months 46 33 (12) 49 (not followed prospective-ly) DXA and pQCT
Wierckx et al[42] Belgium Prospective 12 mo 53 30.3 (14.0) DXA
Mueller et al[36] Germany Prospective 12 mo, 24 mo 84 NR DXA
Yahyaoui et al[43] United States Prospective 12 mo, 24 mo 22 23.1 (9.4) HOMA-IR
Elbers et al[27] The Nether-lands Prospective 12 mo 20 26 (18-36) MRI and EGC ↑ VAT
Elbers et al[25] The Nether-lands Prospective 4 mo, 12 mo 17 26 (18-37) MRI and BIA
Polderm-an et al[38] The Nether-lands Prospective 4 mo 18 26.5 (18-36) BIA and EGC ↓ (NS)
Lapauw et al[33] Belgium Cross-sectional 8 yr on GAHT (4-20) 23 41 (7) 46, age-matched DXA, pQCT 20% lower 30% higher

A:G ratio: Android-Gynoid ratio; BIA: Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis; DXA: Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry; ECG: Euglycaemic clamp; HOMA-IR: Homeostasis model assessment of Insulin Resistance; IR: Insulin resistance; MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; NR: Not reported; NS: Not significant; pQCT: Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography: VAT: Visceral adipose tissue; WC: Waist circumference; WHR: Waist-hip ratio. Ages given as mean (SD or range).